Harry Allen ( tnr ) Jan Lundgren ( pno ) Hans Backenroth ( bass ) Kristian Leth ( drs )Recorded Copenhagen, 11th & 12th July 2014.It is many years since Harry Allen came from under the shadow of his principle inspiration Scott Hamilton but is now very much his own man. He has played and recorded with Scott on a number of occasions as an equal.

All the numbers on this recording were composed by the marvellous Johnny Mandel and this gives the album a head start. Johnny Mandel has written many tunes which have become part of the jazz repertoire and some have become jazz standards.

Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren whose roots are based in the bop movement and has recorded extensively in both his native Sweden and also the United States. He has become one of the leading exponents in this style and is at home in any format from solo and trio to an accompanying role.The Danish drummer Kristian Leth is the man responsible for setting up European tours for visiting jazz musicians including Harry Allen and I am sure having a rhythm section like the one on this album must be half the attraction.

The album kicks off with the medium paced “Sure as You are Born” with Harry moving into an impassioned solo with the rhythm section motoring along behind his sinuous tenor.

Harry’s ballad style is to the fore on “Emily” with a breathy but hard centred approach, Jan Lundgren’s piano solo has a rare beautiful quality to it. “The Shining Sea” is not a tune which receives a lot of plays which is a pity as it is well worth exploring which Harry Allen does to great effect. Jan Lundgren’s piano contribution is masterly.

“A Time for Love” and “The Shadow of Your Smile” are probably two of Johnny Mandel’s best known compositions and both are given highly charged emotional readings. Jan Lundgren’s intro with the verse of “The Shadow of Your Smile” is a masterstroke and Harry’s out of tempo entry adds to the atmosphere.

The closing track the Theme from M*A*S*H for which “Suicide Is Painless” is better known is blessed with an inbuilt swing provides a fitting closure to the album.

Harry Allen has recorded many excellent albums during his recording career but this one must rank as one of his best and is sure to figure in my albums of the Year for 2015.

Reviewed by Roy Booth

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